This is my first attempt at blogging and I want to thank LumberJocks for making this effort possible. I have really enjoyed the projects, comments, and talent of the people on this site.

I have had lots of positive response to the walnut tables I finished last month (my first project posted on LJ). A woodworker friend wants a piece to display in his showroom. Most of the woodwork he has is rustic and he would like to show some more refined pieces.

Today I bought enough 12/4 walnut stock to make the legs for a coffee table. Very straight grain, no knots and only minor checking on the ends ($79.00). I didn’t like the flat stock they had so I will be looking at a few other sources for that. My intent is to follow the same basic design but change the shape and position of the inlay. I have had both positive and negative comments regarding the oval Koa inlay. Mostly positive but a few declared that it was unnecessary for the design. I like the contrast and feel that it makes the table more artistic and unique.

I believe I will alter the leg dimensions also; slightly narrower but keeping the straightened cabriole outline.

Otherwise, I worked on completing some small projects that have been hanging around for weeks waiting for attention. I also got a commission for two doors and a top panel for a vanity. Paint grade plywood flat panel rail and stile design with beading around the inside of the frame. I will use alder for the frames as it is very easy to work and not too expensive for a painted door. They should take two days, but I will lose time this week to family business. My brother is having an open house and I will be busy helping him with setup.

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After working on bro’s place last week I bought some solid core ply and 4/4 Alder at the big box for about $50 and 4 32mm 5/8 overlay Euro hinges ($9.70) and went to work yesterday. I bought a 1/8” beading bit (Rockler) to make a beading insert around the panels.

Planed, sanded, and did the tongue/groove work in Alder for the rails and stiles. Determined the size of the panels from the pre-fitted frames, cut and then rabbeted the back and front of the panel. The front rabbet was larger to accommodate the beading. Assembled the doors, installed the beading, drilled and mounted the hinges and routed a dado in the top panel for the beading. I used a strait 5/16” bit and adjusted the side guide to complete a 7/16” dado in several passes. This morning, I installed the beading in the top panel and called the customer to say they were complete. He delivered a check this afternoon. Yeah! that works…. and he ordered a custom maple knife rack to match his new kitchen..

These were ordered ‘ready to paint’ so I didn’t have to apply a finish.